Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1887-01-14
CLUVEEEUS.

the contrary and the treasured hope of
the condemned man that something wond
turn up to save his neck or steve off the ex-
ecution of the mandate ofthe court, Thomas
J. Cluverius was hanged in the Jail yard in
Richmond day at eight minutes past one
o'clock for the murder of Fannie Lillian
Madison in March, 1885. The interest ak
cited by this case has grown intenser as
time has rolled by, and as the fata! Gay
drew nearer aad nearer the mysterious MUIR
der has become more and more the theme
of comment. The GAZETTE Office has been
thronged all Cay with persons eager to learn
the latest, and at about the hour when 1t
was supposed the fatal trap was to he
sprung the groups about the bulletin board
were augmented considerably. When it
was finally announced that the Governor
had refused 10 interfere, aud that within
few minutes Cuverius would be launched
into the unseen world whittier his alleged
victim had gone nearly two years ago, the
excitement was intense. In short while
8 dispatch announcing the final act in the
sad tragedy was received and bulletined,
and almost simultaneously the telephone
disseminated the news from one end OF the
town to the other The interest exhibited
in and around the GAZETTE cficc, where
the news was first posted, rivaled that usu,
ally shown in heated Presidential contests
Cluverius arose from his couch yesterday
morning about S o'clock, after spending
restless night. He made his toilet and read
his Bible for awhile, as usual, aud then ate
his breakfast He ate only sparingly, though
an abundance of cold turkey, pork-chops
beefsteak, coffee, bread and butter were
sent him. About 10 o'clock Willie Cluve-
RUS called to see his brother, and remained
with him long time. Later Rev. MIR. Clop-
tor and DR.. Hatcher came. Mr.. j. B. Cren
shaw and another Friend also visited the
cell and offered prayers for the prisoners
souls salvation. Mrs. Tunstall the aunt,
who has done so much for her nephew, called
during the morning aud babe him farewell.
Mr.. r. &. Morton, of Stanton, Va, also
called on Cluverius during the day and had
lengthy conversation with him. The
prisoner" said Mr.. Morton, looked as liz
nocent as a sucking dove and talked as
cheerily and hopeful as man possibly could
under any circumstances. He asked me to
90 to see the Governor and intercede in his
behalf. I did so and the Governor remark
ed to me: i have doubt about the guilt OF
the man; do not see hook to hang hope
upon, and think the chain of evidence IN
broken from beginning to end" Visitors
were numerous during the day, but Cluve-
rius excused himself to most Of them.
Between and o'clock Cluveriu5's dinner
was brought in. Il consisted OF beefsteak,
turkey. breast bacon and cabbage, sweet
potatoes, pickle, bread, butter, and coffee.
He ate heartily of this meal. All the Jail
officials say Cluverius held up during the
day remarkably well. They saw no signs
. of his weakening or giving away, and he
greeted all who called upon him with his
accustomed politeness. The scatfold was
erected at the east end OF the yard on the
Marshall-street side of the Jail. The plat
form was eight feet square, and was reached
By fifteen steps in the rear. The main floor
is III feet from the ground, and from the
floor to the top cross beam is u feet The
scaffod is made principally OF pine, and the
top cross beam, which is arched about an
inch, is Virginia black walnut. The trap
door was 81 feet sqaare, and was sprung by
q rome attached to the trigger and snatched
back and downward by the falling of a
heavy weight.
At u o'clock neon yesterday LyonG.
TYLER, ESQ.,. as counsel for Edward Mcln-
tosh, appeared before Judge Holiday, OF
the Chancery Court, presented lengthy
bill of information, and asked Tor an injunc-
ton against City Sergeant James c. Smith
to keep him from using the scatlold repaired
by the complainant for the execution OF
Cluyerius until his bill was satisfied. An eff
fort was subsequently made to have the
matter postponed till Monday (which
would, of course, have deferred tie execu-
ton Of the death sentence on Cluverius)
but Judge Holiday rendered an opinion
that McIntosh had no case, and the prepare
tions for the hanging were resumed. Dur
ing the day several papers were sent to the
Governor attempting to explain who the
couple were DIR. Stratton met on the night
of the murder, in the hope doubtless, the
Executive would find something in them to
justify him in further postponing the hang
ing.
Last night three extra guards, armed with
guns loaded with buckshot, were placed on
duty in the main yard, as a precautionary
measure against any attempt which might
be made by unauthorized parties to effect
admission. Sergeant Smith and his depu-
ties were also on duty all night. Captain
Frank Cunningham was at the jail nearly
all night, and sang several pieces for the
prisoner.
AS soon as the prisoner roe this morning
he was taken from his former quarters and
given bath and dressed in his new suit of
clothes He had invited several OF his
friends to call to see him, and received than
during the morning.
Superintendent Thompson, of the Fire
Alarm Department, made arrangements to
strike all the private fire alarm gongs in the
city the instant the trap was sprung.
The hanging wss done with a rope TWEEN
ty.three feet long, made in Richmond of
fine silk thread. The silk is of different
bright colors The moose part was creased
with olive OF! to make it slip easily.
AN IMposTER.-Last Friday young
woman went to Mr.. Davis's house, near Oc-
coouan. stating that her nGma was Samp.